Loose leaf fastener



July 11, 1 933. P. H. BARKLEY LOOSE LEAF FASTENER 7 Filed April 4, 1932Patented July 11, 1933 f untrue; srArssf ewe-E rny'ron n. nenirnnv, orcnrcAso, ILLINOIS, sssroiuor. r0 c. L. BARKLEY &co., or

OI-EZCAGO, ILLINGIS A GQPARTNERSHIP CON S LIS TING OF PEYT ON I-IYBABKLEY AND HAELES L. BARKL Y;-

LOOSE LEAF 'FAs'rEuEB.

Application filed April 4, 1932. SerialNo. 602,999.

This invention relates to a loose-leaf fast ener and concerns itselfprimarily with a metal strip having a plurality of tongues cut thereinwhich normally lie in the plane of the strip and which are designed tobe deflected at substantially right angles to the strip when put intouse. The tongues are so spaced on the strip as to be adapted fordifferent punchings in the loose sheet and, for this purpose, any two orthree of the tongues may be deflected from the planeof the strip forsuch a purpose, the other tongues not in use remaining in their cut-outposition in the plane of the strip. 1

The metal strip or fastener is adapted for use in connection with aloose-leaf folder having inwardly directed folds'between which the loosesheets are inserted. "The fastener is adapted to be applied to one sideof the folded portion with the tongues extending through the holes andthrough the sheets and crimped' over on the opposite side wherebytheholder also becomes reinforced at its lower portion.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of partshereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined inthe appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of thisinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the difierent views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary interior plan view of a looseeleaf holderinvolving this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional viewtaken upon the line II,-II of Figure 1looking in the direction of the arrow and illustrating the fastenerinvolving this invention in combination with the folder.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken upon the lineIIIIII looking in the direction of the arrow.

In connection with this invention there is illustrated in the drawing afibrous element 1 which may be made of any suitable fibrous material andwhich constitutes the cover member of the binder. This fibrous member 1is folded to provide. the side leaves or cover. members 1 and 1 andbetween these cover members are a pair of inwardly directed folds 2 and3 as shown in Figure 3. The space between the'folds 2 and 3 forms achannel-like recess or pocket for receivingthe lower edges of loosesheets at or the like.

The folds 2 and 3 are provided with a'plurality of spaced apertures 5.These apertures are usually spaced to-fit difi'erent punchings in theloose sheets, and those apertures in the loose sheets that correspondwith the apertures in the folds 2 and 3 are adapted for receiving theproper tongues on the metal fastening element which will now bedescribed.

The loose-sheet fastener comprisesa metal strip or member 6 havingspaced strengthening beads or corrugations 6. A plurality of resilienttongues 7 and 7 are struck from the metal strip and normally lie in theplane thereof before being put to use. I In the drawing, the loose-sheetfastener'ti is illustrated as having three tongues which aredesignatfolds as shown in Figure 2. The tongues 7 a which are not inproper position to engage.

the punched apertures in the loose sheets may remain in their normalposition.

It will be obvious that, in some instances, different numbers of tonguesor prongs may be used. In some instances, the prongs 7 may be used whilethe prongs 7 remain in theirposition in the plane of the metal strip. Insome events, the prong 7 a may be used and the center prong 7 may beused, depending upon the punchings of the loose sheets.

In the use of this fastener, those prongs or tongues which correspond tothe punchings in the loose sheets to be used are bent at right angles tothe plane of the strip and inserted through one of the folds2 or 3. Thesheets are then impaled upon the prongs and the other fold is thenengaged with the tongues after which the tongues may be folded over thelast-mentioned fold as shown in Figure 2.

It will be appreciated that this method greatly facilitates the use ofsuch a folder in that the sheets are more quickly and easily assembledtherewith. At the same time, this metal strip, which it will be notedextends substantially the length of the folded pocket tongue and havinga pair of adjacent tongues at each end portion out therefrom andnormally lying in the plane of the strip, said tongues being axiallyalined and of substantially equal length, and being adapted to beselectively bent to enter differently spaced openings in differentsheets to clamp the sheets to the binder.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty,

Illinois.

PEYTON H. BARKLEY.

